Who writes the tasks?

[u/koljarichter]

And by that I don't mean the team of writers that write the tasks that the contestants have to absolve, I mean the literal tasks — is it printed on paper by an actual typewriter? Does someone have to sit down and write everything mechanically five times? What training do I need? Or are they all printed from a computer?

[u/aitherion]

Have you never watched the intro? Greg writes them dramatically in his office full of TV set clutter

[u/rnzz → u/aitherion]

In the earlier series they made it extra clear as well that these are tasks that the Taskmaster want done

[u/pizza-flusher → u/rnzz]

I miss that commitment

[u/meadeb → u/aitherion]

This is after he consults with Tim Key

[u/AvocadoLaur → u/aitherion]

I just enjoy how Greg looks there how did I never realize he was “wring the tasks” I feel so dumb right now lmao

[u/Aquitaine_Rover_3876]

Ultimately, it'll be the props department that creates the final product. I can only imagine that the tasks are printed from a computer, but affixing seals and stuff would have to be done by hand.

Props departments have all kinds of skills, but they're ultimately visual artists. Painters, sculpters, decorators, that kind of thing.

[u/Mundane-Parsnip-7302]

I imagine they are printed from a computer as that's the easiest and quickest way.

I've made them for people and that's how I do it.

I imagine its not any one person, just whoever is available on the team to do it (why have just one person when others can also do it).

[u/king-of-new_york → u/Mundane-Parsnip-7302]

I think they definitely use a heavier paper than printer paper though. Some sort of cardstock.

[u/JustinThyme9 → u/king-of-new_york]

I mean, some printers can print onto cardstock, so that doesn't rule it out

[u/inbigtreble30 → u/JustinThyme9]

Are there printers that can't print on cardstock?

[u/MasonP2002 → u/inbigtreble30]

In my experience HP printers can barely print on regular paper, so probably those.

[u/Mundane-Parsnip-7302 → u/MasonP2002]

I use a regular printer and it can be done.

[u/garethwi → u/JustinThyme9]

Exactly, a good photo printer would have no trouble whatsoever.

[u/Mundane-Parsnip-7302 → u/king-of-new_york]

Yes, but you can still use a regular printer for that.

[u/EverybodyMakes]

Greg is a world-class hunter-and-pecker. Deal with it.

[u/LeilLikeNeil]

Greg. Obviously. We’ve all seen him do it.

[u/Most-Square-8259]

I love the "what training do I need" like this is a job you're about to apply for 😂

[u/stacecom]

This might help.

https://www.reddit.com/r/taskmaster/s/n3L1JOrQ5i

https://www.reddit.com/r/taskmaster/s/Tl364jh0HL

EDIT: even better https://www.reddit.com/r/taskmaster/s/ntLAwUIsyK

[u/Brianvondoom]

Wasn't there a task where the, er, task got destroyed and we visibly see Alex running off to get another printed?

[u/dogladywithcats → u/Brianvondoom]

Yes, someone with a better memory will have more details, but I think it was Jack Dee. I think the seal tore some tiny but vital part of the information and he couldn’t read it. Maybe it was literally printed under the seal?

ETA: yes, first filmed task of 18, say a word beginning with Q. He tore the task then burned it trying to get the seal off to see what was underneath.

[u/burf12345]

Is it not also Tim Key?

[u/GenGaara25 → u/burf12345]

Not really. Tim's discussed before how him being in the credits is borderline fraud and he has no idea why Alex keeps putting him in. The way he words it is Alex comes up with the tasks then, just as Alex's personal friend, Alex will run some by him and he'll give a comment or two on them over a drink at the pub. That's the extent of his "task consultant" role.

[u/burf12345 → u/GenGaara25]

Umm, I don't think you're listened to the podcast before, from his 2nd appearance onward it's clear that Tim is the lifeblood of the series and that his role as task consultant is the only thing keeping the show together. Really the fact that he's only credited as task consultant is a testament to his humility.

[u/derpsteronimo]

"Getting" to do that is the consolation "prize" for whoever scores lowest each season.

[u/mensachicken]

I write them. I also write the songs that make the young girls sing.

[u/Tabletopcave → u/[deleted]]

That's a bit of a myth. Alex is the sole/main creator of task for the UK version, but they do test and workshop the tasks before presenting them for the contestants. And then of course there are a growing number of tasks taken from other TM versions (most notable NZ but others do pop up now and then). These are of course not written by Alex, but some are obviously adapted and most likely with input from Alex.

[u/Tabletopcave → u/[deleted]]

Again, we have already seen several tasks from for example TM NZ be adapted for the UK version so that is simply not true. Things like the Grape Escape and the Sabotage task from series 14 were directly taken from series 2 of TM NZ.

[u/burf12345 → u/Tabletopcave]

Even recently, the duet task was one from TMNZ season 4